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Solar Decathlon Blog - Solar Decathlon

Below you will find Solar Decathlon news from the Solar Decathlon archive, sorted by date.

40 Collegiate Teams Advance to Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Forty teams from 37 collegiate institutions are advancing to the final stage of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® 2024 Design Challenge based on their cutting-edge, zero energy building designs.

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3 Days Remain! Nominate for the Solar Decathlon Alumni-Faculty Awards by Feb. 1

Monday, January 29, 2024

A photo of Holly Carr shaking hands with the 2023 Outstanding Faculty Advisor award winner: Edoarda Corradi Dell'Acqua
3 Days Remain! Nominate for the Solar Decathlon Alumni/Faculty Awards by Feb. 1

Only 3 days remain to nominate an outstanding U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® alumni or faculty lead for the Solar Decathlon Awards!

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Solar Decathlon Awards Nominations Open, SD Pro January Cohort, and More!

Friday, December 15, 2023

Three women smiling and looking at the camera, holding awards, against a backdrop with the Solar Decathlon logo.

SOLAR DECATHLON AWARDS

Nominate an Outstanding Solar Decathlon Alum or Faculty Member by Feb. 1!

Know a Solar Decathlon alum or faculty lead who should be celebrated for accomplishments in the buildings industry? Nominate them for the Solar Decathlon Alumni/Faculty Awards!

These annual awards are given to past U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® participants at the student or faculty level who have made outstanding contributions to the transition to a clean energy economy.

Nominate by Feb. 1 to be considered. Winners will be announced in April 2024 at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado.

Nominate today!

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Solar Decathlon Build Challenge Update

Friday, October 27, 2023

This fall DOE will be engaging stakeholders to solicit feedback on an updated competition model for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® Build Challenge. DOE is examining options that would align the structure and impact of the program to further support the Building Technologies Office’s decarbonization goals, building on the 20 years of demonstrated success of the Solar Decathlon. Because of the time needed to provide ample opportunity for stakeholder engagement and feedback, DOE will not hold a 2025 Build Challenge competition.

If you are interested in participating in this effort, please contact Jaime Van Mourik at jaime.vanmourik@ee.doe.gov.

One Week Left to Register for the Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge!

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

One Week Left to Register for the Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge!

Students and faculty from the 2023 Design Challenge Howard University team pose with their trophy. (Photo by Vern Slocum, NREL)

Students and faculty from the 2023 Design Challenge Howard University team pose with their trophy. (Photo by Vern Slocum, NREL)

Only one week is left to register for the 2024 Design Challenge with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon®! 

The Design Challenge is an annual collegiate competition challenging interdisciplinary teams to create zero energy building designs that address real-world issues such as climate resilienceembodied carbonexisting building retrofits, and community impact.  

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Students/Mentors/Jurors—Join the Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge by October 18!

Thursday, September 21, 2023

Join the 2024 Design Challenge by October 18, 2023, to compete in, mentor, or judge the international zero energy building design competition.

Students from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, present their high-performance building design at NREL

Students from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, present their high-performance building design at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, during the Solar Decathlon 2023 Competition Event.

Less than four weeks remain to be a part of the 2024 Design Challenge with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon®!

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Calling the Next Sustainable Building Professionals—Register for the Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

Are you a student or professor interested in transforming buildings to tackle the climate crisis?

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is seeking collegiate student participants from diverse majors to join the next round of the zero energy building design competition. Students from collegiate institutions in the United States and around the world are encouraged to form interdisciplinary teams and register!

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Join the Solar Decathlon High School Program as an Alumni Mentor!

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

A man stands in front of a crowded room of seated students.

A Solar Decathlon alum gives a STEM career talk to high school students.

Solar Decathlon Pathways (SD Pathways) is back this fall, bringing STEM career talks to U.S. high school classrooms—and we are looking for alumni and educators to participate!

SD Pathways introduces high school students to clean energy and STEM careers by connecting them with U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® alumni.

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Calling the Next Generation of Sustainable Building Professionals—Solar Decathlon Announces 2024 Design Challenge

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Several students and faculty pose with scale models of their sustainable building designs.

Solar Decathlon 2023 Design Challenge teams showcase models of their sustainable building designs during the Competition Event at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Photo by Vern Slocum, NREL.

Are you a collegiate student interested in transforming buildings to serve communities and the planet? The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is seeking student participants from diverse majors to join the next round of the zero-energy building design competition.

The Design Challenge is an annual design competition challenging interdisciplinary teams of collegiate students to create high-performance, low-carbon building designs that address real-world issues related to climate resilience, affordability, and environmental justice.

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Join the Solar Decathlon Professionals summer cohort with USGBC-June 7 to Aug. 9, 23 CEUs available!

Monday, May 8, 2023

This advanced-level course is for those familiar with building sciences who want to gain practical experience with zero energy projects or instruction.

a rendering of a home

Zero energy building rendering courtesy of Deborah Lin Pérez Centeno, former SD Pro participant.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® is partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to host the next Solar Decathlon Professionals Program (SD Pro) cohort!

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DOE Announces 21st Annual Solar Decathlon Winners

Monday, April 24, 2023

Ball State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and The Cooper Union Named 2023 Build and Design Challenge Winners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the winners of the 21st annual Solar Decathlon®, DOE’s longest-running student competition. The annual collegiate contest challenges the next generation of building professionals to design and construct high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy, while promoting student innovation, STEM education, and workforce development opportunities in the buildings industry. Ball State University, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, and The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art won the top honors at this year’s competition and were announced at the Solar Decathlon Competition Event at DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado yesterday.
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Solar Decathlon: Cementing Foundations in Decarbonization Careers

Friday, March 24, 2023

an aerial view of a building with solar panels on the roof, and the Legence and solar decathlon logo on the top.

Photo by Adobe Stock

headshot of Deborah CloutierBy Deborah Cloutier, Chief Sustainability Officer, Legence

The Solar Decathlon empowers thousands of talented students to take up careers in the clean economy, producing tangible benefits for numerous companies, including Legence.

In 2009, the Solar Decathlon is where three soon-to-be Legence employees—Ben Hobbs, Drew Roberts, and Johnathan Stewart—got their impressive start in net-zero energy design, setting the foundation for their lifelong work at CMTA, a Legence company. Throughout the competition, they designed and built the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems of a net-zero energy-efficient house.

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Zero Energy Design Designation – Join March 7 Informational Webinar!

Friday, February 24, 2023

An aerial view of a home, with the text "Zero Energy Design Designation"

Learn about the Zero Energy Design Designation—March 7 Informational Webinar

Want to earn a designation from the U.S. Department of Energy for your collegiate institution’s zero energy program of study?

Join representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Zero Energy Design Designation virtually on March 7 to learn how participation in the Solar Decathlon can help you earn this prestigious designation!

  • Learn more about the 2023 Zero Energy Design Designation during an informational webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.
  • Launched in 2022, DOE has awarded 17 programs of study from 12 post-secondary institutions for their outstanding three-year commitment to provide students with building science education and opportunities to deploy zero energy design skills through hands-on design or build projects.
  • The Zero Energy Design Designation is an opportunity for post-secondary institutions to highlight their leadership in zero energy design education, and the Zero Energy Design Designation application will open for 2023 applicants no later than early May.
  • Collegiate programs that participate in the Solar Decathlon Design and/or Build Challenges through the final submission meet the criteria to apply for the designation!

Webinar details:

  • The webinar is an opportunity to hear from participating faculty about the designation.
  • The session will also help you learn how your college or university program could earn the designation, the application timeline, information about how to apply, and a question/answer period.

The Zero Energy Design Designation organizers hope to see you on March 7! Please reach out with any questions to ZEDD@nrel.gov.

The New Solar Decathlon LinkedIn Page Just Launched

Thursday, February 23, 2023

a screenshot of the new linkedin page

The New Solar Decathlon LinkedIn Page Just Launched!

You asked, we built it! The new Solar Decathlon LinkedIn page just launched, allowing you to list the program in your experience section, search and connect with other alumni, and showcase your experience to a wider audience. You deserve it: https://bit.ly/SolarD_LinkedIn

Not a Solar Decathlon alum? No problem! Follow the new page to stay up to date on the latest Solar Decathlon happenings, including the announcement of the 2023 Design Challenge Finalists on February 27! The Semifinal Competition Event is this weekend, so stay tuned on LinkedIn for updates.

Nominate a Faculty Advisor or Alum for the Solar Decathlon Richard King Award by February 1!

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

A collage of past Richard King Award winners -

Nominate a Faculty Advisor or Alum for the Solar Decathlon Richard King Award by February 1!

Has an influential U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® Alum or Faculty Advisor made a positive impact on you, the program, or building a clean energy economy? Nominate them for the Richard King Award by February 1, 2023!

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